BATTLING parents have launched a last ditch attempt to stop education chiefs axing their village school.

With time running out for St Oswald's Worleston Primary School, pupils, parents and governors took their protests to the county council's doorstep on Monday.

They travelled to County Hall in Chester armed with banners and placards to present their case to stay open.

Consultation for Cheshire County Council's 'Transforming Learning Communities' proposals came to an end yesterday and the authority will shortly decide the fate of the school which it has earmarked for the axe.

Mum Hazel Dockery said: 'This was our last opportunity to show council officers our depth and strength of feeling on this and it shows our determination to fight what we believe to be a flawed proposal.

'We will not roll over and die and we won't accept any council decision until an adjudicator has decided.

'The facts presented by different organisations across the country say the council shouldn't be touching us. Until we are told the doors have to close we will fight to the last.'

Parent-governor Fiona Haywood added: 'The Audit Commission safeguards small schools if they have less than 30 surplus places. We only have 15.

'There has also been no assessment of the community impact of closing the school. At least 15 different organisations use the building and if it closes where will they go?'

A decision by the council's full executive is expected on Tuesday, April 4 followed by a six-week period where objections could be lodged.

Joan Feenan, director of children's services, told parents in a consultation document: 'The school's ability to reach the 49 pupil capacity is limited because there is minimal housing development in the immediate area and the cost of existing housing is extremely high.

'There are 37 primary aged pupils living in the catchment area of St Oswald's and only 18 of these actually attend the school.

'The school has 32.7% surplus places which is the second highest percentage in the locality'.